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Aftermarket parts, what a mixed bag, there are good ones that are as good if not better than the original ( especially if some of the original parts are renowned for being unreliable), Others are not that vital and not an issue. a good few are just pants.
We’ve seen knock off brake parts in the uk looking pretty close to the ones sold by reputable manufacturers originals, many have been down right dangerous, potentially deadly.
Just today I’ve been tracking down a new starter motor, the only new units are aftermarket and are well known for failing in 3 weeks, I made sure as it was for a VW I got a refurbished Bosch, though the Lucas aftermarket refurbs are decent.
[quote=”TNT” post=76954]Aftermarket parts, what a mixed bag, there are good ones that are as good if not better than the original ( especially if some of the original parts are renowned for being unreliable), Others are not that vital and not an issue. a good few are just pants.
We’ve seen knock off brake parts in the uk looking pretty close to the ones sold by reputable manufacturers originals, many have been down right dangerous, potentially deadly.
Just today I’ve been tracking down a new starter motor, the only new units are aftermarket and are well known for failing in 3 weeks, I made sure as it was for a VW I got a refurbished Bosch, though the Lucas aftermarket refurbs are decent.[/quote]
Aftermarket stuff usually is a mixed bag. For the most part the aftermarket part industry is driven by profit margins over quality. Come to think of it, that’s the way most things seem to work these days.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=76960]
Aftermarket stuff usually is a mixed bag. For the most part the aftermarket part industry is driven by profit margins over quality. Come to think of it, that’s the way most things seem to work these days.[/quote]I agree. Quality in my opinion means the product was built to last, and to the best of the company’s ability. The same goes for service. Quality service is when a vehicle is repaired to the best of the mechanic’s ability. These days fixing things “good enough” seems to be the norm. It all comes down to pride in your work or pride in your product. I believe as a society, we have lost a lot of pride in our work, which impacts the quality of what we do.
As a customer, I will pay more for quality every single time, even if it means waiting a bit longer until I can afford it. The shop I use may not be the cheapest, but they take pride in their work and do a great job. I also respect them a lot more because of the pride they have, as well as how they treat their customers. They always show the customers what the problem is with their vehicle, and it shows how much they care, and in turn the customer is more willing to pay for something they now understand.
The biggest problem I find is that we have a throwaway society. Many people buy a new car after a few years around here. Cars are made with cheaper quality than ever on certain things, yet the prices are outrageous because of all the technological gadgets we feel we “need”. Its hard to keep a car for 10 years if the electronic systems start getting flaky after 5 years, and to fix these items costs more than the value of the vehicle.
I’d rather pay $40k for a vehicle I can keep for 20 years than one that lasts 6 years but has a heated steering wheel, infotainment system, and a digital gauge cluster.
“I agree. Quality in my opinion means the product was built to last, and to the best of the company’s ability. The same goes for service. Quality service is when a vehicle is repaired to the best of the mechanic’s ability. These days fixing things “good enough” seems to be the norm. It all comes down to pride in your work or pride in your product. I believe as a society, we have lost a lot of pride in our work, which impacts the quality of what we do.”
That is why I take it personally when a customer has issues with the work I’ve done. We as mechanics should realize (if We don’t already) that we are literally taking our customers lives in our hands, If we screw up someone could get hurt or die. Things like forgetting to tighten a lug happen but if that tire comes off on the freeway it could be a disaster.
I often feel a little under-appreciated by customers who think that I am trying to rip them off, but quite the opposite is true I always try to get my customers the best value for their dollar and I stand behind my work. Not everyone thinks that way anymore.My boss seems to push how long it takes me to do something over how well it is done. I guess i do a good job, but it would be nice if Mr Bossman wasnt so bossy. All i hear from him is “You are too slow”
Well forgive me, i’ve only been in it for a total of 5 months.. I dont wana rush shit just to have something go wrong or break..I want to stand by my work, though it’s hard when the owner/boss is thinking about his profit.. but i guess this goes into “shop etiquette” a bit, more than “Quality”
Back to automotive build/design quality, i am proud to say that my Honda has lasted 25 years with out any major issues… As of now, rubber is dry (seals) and that’s basically all. The engine runs like new, and though the car is a tiny bit rough around the edges, it’s mostly cosmetic. If i listed all the stuff that it needed, there would not be anything in the “repair” category. That, to me, is quality at it’s finest. 25 years and not a day went by where any issues came up.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=76960]
Aftermarket stuff usually is a mixed bag. For the most part the aftermarket part industry is driven by profit margins over quality. Come to think of it, that’s the way most things seem to work these days.[/quote]Trouble is with aftermarket parts, I’m asking around all my friends in the business or resorting to trial and error to find out are these parts are any good. I Often don’t have the money to go with dealer prices. I’d always spend a little more over the cheapest option if i know it’s going to work out better in the long run.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which brand supplies parts to OEM then get the OEM label stamp before ending up at the part store at the dealer. if you can figure it out it saves you fair bit of money over dealer prices while avoiding the crap, and the parts fit like a glove.
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